Walmart Goes Small

Retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) has revealed plans to open a 2,500-square foot store on the campus of Georgia Tech. The store will be, by far, the smallest Walmart retail outlet in the United States, far smaller than the 15,000-square foot Walmart Express stores or the 40,000-square foot Walmart Neighborhood markets. Don't even mention the massive superstores.

The campus store will feature pharmacy, basic grocery, general merchandise, and health and beauty products. The company already operates a store on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

The teeny-weeny store is likely a test of concept and a way to promote Walmart as a brand among a younger, potentially more upscale demographic. Making a connection with younger customers has been shown to pay-off in the long term for any number of businesses. It is that, perhaps, more than the test of concept that Walmart wants to try out.

Shares of Walmart stock are trading up about 0.1% today, at $68.94 in a 52-week range of $57.18 to $77.60.

Filed under: 24/7 Wall St. Wire, Retail Tagged: featured, WMT